KUALA LUMPUR: Capcom’s new third-person shooter Pragmata is a shining example of the ingenuity the Japanese company had back in the 80s and 90s, long before it had far more shareholders to answer to.
Unlike the corporate obligation-filled decades that followed, the 80s and 90s represented Capcom at its peak in game design and ideas.
But for those familiar with gaming history, this may well be an outlier from a company now known for sequels and remakes. How many Resident Evil remakes have been released in recent years? And was the latest one, Resident Evil 4, even necessary, given that the original GameCube version – now available on PC for RM5 – was tightly designed and is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time?
Add to that the departure of key longtime leads Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Tsuchiya and Hideaki Itsuno from 2022 onwards. It is unlikely that pay or prestige was the issue; veteran developers can grow weary of rehashing the same franchises.
There are also rumours that Capcom plans to remake the first Resident Evil again. Why remake a remake? Is the company relying too heavily on metrics rather than creativity?
Consider this: it may only take one truly original release to reset perceptions of the company’s reliance on familiar titles. The internet is quick to shift sentiment, especially for a brand as beloved as Capcom. While other companies behave similarly, Capcom has drawn attention recently due to its supposed “bold new” strategy. Yet the balance between remakes and new intellectual property remains heavily skewed towards the former.
Like any company, Capcom must generate revenue and satisfy shareholders, but it is taking fewer creative risks than before. It leans heavily on goodwill, allowing titles like the Resident Evil 4 remake to receive widespread praise – often from critics and creators who may not have experienced the original, resulting in a skewed perspective.
It is worth noting that even during its criticised late-2000s period – often associated with the “Keiji Inafune era” – Capcom was still experimenting with new ideas rather than repeatedly revisiting past successes.
Perhaps the reliance on sequels and remakes has always been part of the company’s strategy, with new intellectual property appearing only occasionally.
Short Beats
The Indonesian Game Rating System (IGRS) has accidentally leaked over 1,000 game developer emails and unreleased triple-A video game footage including 007 First Light and Echoes of Aincrad.
2015 action role-playing game Bloodborne is getting an animated film adaptation produced by content creator Sean “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin and Lyrical Animation.
Konami has announced a new baseball title called eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026, slated for July 16 for PC and PlayStation 5.
Take-Two Interactive’s stock price has risen after hacker group ShinyHunters revealed how much money Grand Theft Auto Online has made — US$1 million a day, leading to US$500 million annually.
Metro 2039, the latest sequel in the first-person post-apocalyptic survival action series, will be released for PC and consoles in winter 2026.
Twitch streamer Ryan Gary Letourneau, also known as Northernlion, has cancelled his viral event Supercruise due to safety concerns. The six-day cruise was set to sail from Tampa, Florida, to Mexico and back, featuring online gaming and live entertainment.
The Call of Duty movie adaptation will be released in cinemas on July 1, 2028. The film will be directed by Peter Berg.
Games out This Week
MOUSE: PI For Hire is a new first-person shooter with 1930s rubber hose animation, a black-and-white aesthetic, a jazzy soundtrack and a noir storyline starring anthropomorphic mice. You play Jack Pepper, voiced by Troy Baker, as he solves three noir cases involving crooked cops, cultists and kidnappings. Out for PC and consoles.
Gunboat God is an indie 2D run-and-gun twin stick shooter for PC where you control the titular gunboat that can operate on water and underwater. As a heavily armed pilot, you navigate 2D levels, eliminate monsters and protect your alligator companion Yeti.
Replaced is a 2D pixel art cyberpunk action-adventure game set in an alternate 1980s America scarred by nuclear catastrophe. You play as an AI trapped in a human body, navigating a dystopian world while uncovering the truth and confronting the Phoenix Corporation. Out for PC and Xbox consoles.
Pragmata is Capcom’s new third-person action-adventure title set in a sci-fi universe, slated for PC and consoles. Play as Hugh, a member of an ill-fated investigation team, and Diana, a young android, as they navigate a lunar facility taken over by rogue AI in search of a way back to Earth.
Dosa Divas is a narrative-heavy turn-based role-playing game where you play as two sisters controlling a spirit-mech that cooks meals. Battle an evil fast food empire while building your reputation with local communities. Out for PC and consoles.
Moses & Plato: Last Train to Clawville is a murder mystery adventure game where you are the main suspect, solving the case before the train reaches its final stop. Developed by The Wild Gentlemen and published by Indonesian publisher Toge Productions.
Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream is a new Nintendo Switch title where you manage an island populated by Mii characters.
Recommended Viewings
Content creator Crowbcat revisits a familiar comparison: the original Resident Evil 4 and its 2025 remake, arguing the latter feels unnecessary and commercially driven.
